But this message isn’t getting the attention it deserves, from the media or organisational leaders. Instead, we hear about expanding screening processes.

Some organisations are extending screening beyond the legislated categories of child-related employment. An example is requiring soccer mums to have a Working With Children check to sit on the oval sidelines. Yet we hear little about the policies and processes that are needed to change conditions of safety on and off the field.

“Suitability” checks of volunteers and employees help prevent those who have previously demonstrated their unsuitability to work with children from becoming involved with organisations. But these processes have serious limitations: they focus on past behaviours that are relatively low-frequency, occur in private, and are typically not reported to external authorities.

And, by definition, first-time child sex offenders won’t have a prior child sex offence to detect. Running checks on adult volunteers and employees also doesn’t protect children from bullying or harmful sexual behaviour by other young people.

Pre-employment history checks, while necessary, can distract our attention from assessing whether adults will bring the desired values and skills for working with children and young people.

Undue emphasis on screening out those who are “unsuitable” ignores the ways that the situational context shapes or excuses individual behaviour – including harmful behaviour. And that is something leaders can directly influence.

Screening is the first chapter in the book on how to safeguard children, not the final chapter.

This approach provides a lens for understanding how abuse of children occurs in institutions. It provides a foundation for developing effective prevention strategies by reducing opportunities for sexual offending.

Child sexual abuse would be reduced if organisations had policies and practices focusing on:

reducing opportunities to offend;

increasing the chances of getting caught;

reducing the “pay-offs” of offending; and

making excuses for adults’ inappropriate behaviour less plausible.

While it’s difficult to evaluate how well primary prevention activities prevent actual instances of abuse, these strategies are based on
research.

Primary prevention strategies are used to prevent other forms of violence, including date rape, family violence, workplace bullying and adult sexual assault.

In these areas, the focus is not on screening or checking a database for suitability. For example, OurWatch powerfully demonstrates that such violence is largely driven by cultures where gender inequality, discrimination and harassment are excused or supported.

Leaders are responsible for the culture and specific practices of their organisations. They must drive a process for identifying activities that might be higher risk. These might include low supervision of adult-child interactions, using adults as role models or mentors for young people, or opportunities for misusing social media.

The risks for such activities then need to be managed. Leaders also need to address issues in their organisations that promote conditions where abuse is more likely to be tolerated, excused or ignored. Does the organisation allow gender stereotyping, homophobia or other practices that make grooming of children easier, or make it harder for young people to raise concerns about the behaviour of an adult?

How do leaders keep children safe?

minimise risks for abuse to occur, by implementing strategies to limit opportunities or add protection to improve safety;

make it very clear, in written policies and in conversation, what behaviour is acceptable and unacceptable, and encourage people to report any breaches of those codes; and

move towards “protective participation” – our research shows that leaders must support children to better understand risks and make judgements on when to trust or be wary.

Adults should understand what safety means to children and respond to their fears. Most importantly, young people should be included in developing policies and safety strategies.

Young people need information and support for promoting respectful peer relationships, knowledge about their bodies, sexual health and sexual safety skills. This should be underpinned by a positive culture across the whole organisation. It should aim to be child-friendly, transparent and respectful.

President Donald Trump reacts before speaking at a recent rally in Arizona. Trump, a politician who came from the business world, is facing intense criticism about his leadership abilities.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)